Zimbabwe's war vets praise army's actions
6:50 a.m.
The
Zimbabwe army's takeover of the state broadcaster and action against some
members of President Robert Mugabe's government has been praised by the
chairman of the Liberation War Veterans' Association.
Chris
Mutsvangwa, head of the war veterans' group issued a statement from
Johannesburg praising Army General Constantino Chiwenga for carrying out
"a bloodless correction of gross abuse of power." The statement said
the army will return Zimbabwe to "genuine democracy."
Mutsvangwa and the war veterans' group are staunch allies
of Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was fired from his post of vice president by Mugabe
last week.
5:50 a.m.
Zimbabwe's
army urges other security services to "cooperate for the good of our country,"
warning that "any provocation will be met with an appropriate
response."
The
statement read out early Wednesday on state-run television calls on troops to
return to barracks immediately, with all leave canceled.
It says
that if the country's degenerating political, social and economic situation is
not addressed, it "may result in a violent conflict."
The army insists that this is not a military takeover and
that President Robert Mugabe's security is guaranteed.
4:55 a.m.
Zimbabwe's
army has announced that "this is not a military takeover" and that
President Robert Mugabe and his family are safe and sound.
"We
are only targeting criminals around who him who are committing crimes that are
causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to
justice," the army announced on state-run media.
The
early Wednesday announcement comes after a night of unrest with military
vehicles in the capital and several explosions heard.
The army
statement says that "as soon as we have accomplished our mission, we
expect that the situation will return to normalcy."
Zimbabwe for the first time is seeing an open rift
between the military and the 93-year-old Mugabe after he fired his deputy and
longtime ally, who had military support.
4 a.m.
The
British embassy in Zimbabwe is warning citizens to stay indoors "until the
situation becomes clearer" amid growing political turmoil and military
vehicles in the capital.
The
embassy on Twitter cited "the uncertain situation" and "reports
of unusual military activity" in the capital, Harare.
At least
three explosions have been heard early Wednesday in Harare and armed soldiers
and military vehicles have been seen in the streets.
Zimbabwe
for the first time is seeing an open rift between the military and 93-year-old
President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled since 1980.
3:25 a.m.
The U.S.
Embassy in Zimbabwe is encouraging American citizens to "shelter in
place" amid rising political turmoil and the appearance of troops in the
capital.
An
embassy statement cites "the ongoing political uncertainty through the
night." The embassy will be closed to the public on Wednesday.
At least
three explosions have been heard early Wednesday in Harare and armed soldiers
and military vehicles have been seen in the streets.
Zimbabwe
for the first time is seeing an open rift between the military and 93-year-old
President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled since 1980.
2:30 a.m.
The U.S.
Embassy in Zimbabwe says it will be closed to the public on Wednesday because
of "ongoing uncertainty" in the capital.
The
embassy announced the closure on Twitter early Wednesday, shortly after at
least three explosions were heard in Harare and military vehicles were seen in
the streets. The embassy says it will remain "minimally staffed."
Tensions
are high after Zimbabwe's army commander threatened to have the military step
in and calm political turmoil and the ruling party accused him of "treasonable
conduct."
Zimbabwe
for the first time is seeing an open rift between the military and 93-year-old
President Robert Mugabe.
1:55 a.m.
At least
three explosions have been heard in Zimbabwe's capital as military vehicles are
seen in the streets.
The
Associated Press has seen armed soldiers assaulting passers-by. Soldiers have
been seen loading ammunition near a group of four military vehicles.
Tensions
are high in the capital, Harare, after the country's army commander threatened
to have the military step in and calm political turmoil and the ruling party
accused him of "treasonable conduct."
Zimbabwe for the first time is seeing an open rift
between the military and 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe.
8:35 p.m.
Zimbabwe's
ruling party is accusing the country's army commander of "treasonable
conduct" for his threat to have the military step in and calm political
turmoil.
The
statement issued Tuesday night says the unprecedented comments made a day
earlier by army commander Constantino Chiwenga were "clearly calculated to
disturb national peace and stability" and were "meant to incite
insurrection."
The
statement comes hours after The Associated Press saw three tanks with several
soldiers in a convoy on a road heading toward an army barracks just outside the
capital, Harare.
While it
is routine for tanks to move along that route, the timing heightens unease in a
country that for the first time is seeing an open rift between the military and
93-year-old President Robert Mugabe.
Tensions rose last week after Mugabe fired his deputy
Emmerson Mnangagwa, who had the military's support.
5:30 p.m.
Zimbabwe
is on edge as armed personnel vehicles are seen outside the capital a day after
the army commander threatened to "step in" to calm political tensions
over the president's firing of his deputy.
The
Associated Press saw three armed personnel vehicles with several soldiers in a
convoy on a road heading toward an army barracks just outside the capital,
Harare.
While it
is routine for armed personnel vehicles to move along that route, Tuesday's
timing heightens unease in this country that for the first time is seeing an
open rift between the military and 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe.
Mugabe
last week fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and accused him of plotting
to take power. Over 100 senior officials allegedly backing Mnangagwa have been
listed for disciplinary measures by a faction associated with Mugabe's wife.
No comments:
Post a Comment